LieFest

The level of deception at the RNC was truly stunning, even for a political event. As the New York Times noted, “The two speeches — peppered with statements that were incorrect or incomplete — seemed to signal the arrival of a new kind of presidential campaign, one in which concerns about fact-checking have been largely set aside.” Even a FOX NEWS (!) columnist said that Ryan’s speech,“was an apparent attempt to set the world record for the greatest number of blatant lies and misrepresentations slipped into a single political speech.”

Mr. Ryan fiercely attacked the president on the deficit, stating, “He created a new bipartisan debt commission. They came back with an urgent report. He thanked them, sent them on their way and then did exactly nothing.” Of course, he cynically failed to mention he was a member and voted against the report. In fact, the president did embrace a number of the recommendations of the commission, including budget cuts and small tax increases. Yet, it is the Republican House that refuses to consider any tax increase.

Then, he blamed the president for the closure of a GM plant in his district. But, that plant closed in 2008, before Mr. Obama even became president. By the way, hardly anyone questions that, if not for the president’s decision to rescue Chrysler and GM, which Romney and Ryan both opposed, the domestic auto industry would have crumbled, costing more than a million jobs.

About the downgrading of America’s credit rating, Ryan said, “It began with a perfect Triple-A credit rating for the United States; it ends with a downgraded America.” In fact, Standard and Poors, which downgraded its rating, blamed it on, “the political brinkmanship of recent months highlights what we see as America’s governance and policy making becoming less stable, less effective and less predictable …” This brinkmanship was completely manufactured by Ryan himself and the Republican House.

According to Ryan, “What did the taxpayers get out of the Obama stimulus? More debt.” No jobs, just more debt. Yet, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the stimulus package actually increased employment by up to 3.3 million people. Ironically, in 2010, Ryan asked for Stimulus Funds for two companies in his district. I guess what is bad for the nation is good for his district!

I could go on, because Ryan lied about Medicare cuts, the safety net, the deficit, and on and on.

Romney was no better. Romney said, “We are a good and generous people who are united by so much more than divides us.” Yet, the Republicans charted a course of denial and obstruction from the first day of President Obama’s term. Senate Majority Leader McConnell said in 2010, “Our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term in office.” Not jobs, not the deficit, not Social Security and Medicare. In fact, I truly believe that the Republicans really don’t want the economy to improve, because that strengthens the president. They would rather capture the White House than see Americans prosper. Shame!